For the last half-century or so, astronomers around the world have been scanning the cosmos with massive radio telescopes in hopes of finding some sign of intelligent life. This network of alien-hunters comprises the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), but despite all their efforts, the interstellar radio waves have remained quiet. One might even say too quiet.

But many SETI astronomers aren't content with only scanning the airwaves for signs of ET. Instead, they think we should also be actively reaching out to the cosmos on behalf of planet Earth.

These astronomers occupy a controversial niche within the SETI community known as Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligences, or METI. At the forefront of this group is Douglas Vakoch, president of METI International, a research group dedicated to designing and sending messages intended for extraterrestrial recipients.

Vakoch and his colleagues at METI International are fighting an uphill battle. Aside from all the technical problems that come with trying to contact aliens, many SETI astronomers think it's a bad idea.

That is a typical controversial journalistic article fron CNET. There is no worldwide agreement to go giving out signals ourselves. Anything like that would have to go through the UN.

Actually that may be a double edged sword. We likely haven't got the technology to send a meaningful message in sensible timescales out there into the cosmos. And it could well be that the other lot, if there are any, are in the same predicament. So hang around everyone, we might get a call from ET in AD 3000, reply in AD 3001, get a reply in AD 4000.

Better reverse charges with the Intergalactic Communications Corporation, could get expensive.

A number of METI messages have already sent out, over the years, notably from the Arecibo and Evpatoria radio astronomy observatories. These don't seem to have precipitated any dire consequences.

Some of our more powerful radars are apparently receivable at stellar distances, with equipment as good as, or only modestly more advanced than our own.

Then, too, even our less conspicuous signals could be received by extraterrestrials who really wished to do so. This could be accomplished by placing receivers at the gravitational lens foci of a star. Using an entire star as a collector of radio waves would reportedly make for almost fantastic sensitivity.

Well, if there is life out there, it seems inevitable to me, aside from problems with current laws of physics, that we're going to find each other someday, so a few bottles thrown in the cosmic ocean now seem harmless enough. The mind is a weird and mysterious place

I'm not keen on the idea of sending out invitations to unknown recipients.

If other civilizations all felt that way then SETI is a royal waste of time and energy. I doubt that eavesdropping will prove to be fruitful unless the "I am here"
messages are beamed out into promising places in space.

I'm not keen on the idea of sending out invitations to unknown recipients.

If other civilizations all felt that way then SETI is a royal waste of time and energy. I doubt that eavesdropping will prove to be fruitful unless the "I am here"
messages are beamed out into promising places in space.

And maybe, just maybe other civilizations which can send signals into the Deep, have the ability to defend themselves, or the brains not to beam in a first place.

Without knowing for certain, I choose to believe others ARE in fact beaming straight across the universe https://youtu.be/gZ_XRTP-JbE?t=504. Otherwise, as you said, SETI would be a royal waste of time and energy. Thinking that way really kills my mojo.

I truly believe that as an intelligent species we are not alone, if not in this galaxy then in one of the billions of others in the known universe. But I have also come to believe since this whole seti@home thing started that it is a very long shot hoping that we will ever communicate with any of the other intelligent beings out there within my lifetime and probably several more generations of humans. We just don't live long enough in the great big scheme of things. Everything is just too far apart and unless and until some genius discovers a way to bypass the speed limit known as the speed of light with both space travel and interstellar communication we will remain stuck here on our little island called earth only guessing and hoping someone else is out there. Having said that I will continue to support the seti@home project until I die or it shuts down.Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Updated | A small group of scientists has unilaterally decided to send messages to any advanced alien civilization living in a star system 12.4 light years away (over 70 trillion miles). The message, which includes pieces of music, math and technology, was transmitted to the GJ273 system over three days in October and includes instructions about how they should reply to us on a day 25 years from now.ET Phone Home

I don't see anything wrong with it. Not trying to start an argument but I do find it funny/curious that there are people that don't believe in aliens but those same people are quick to say why draw attention to ourselves so that those aliens don't attack us.

When I read this article, it reminded me of a book I'm reading called Pandora's Star. There are some people that didn't want to explore a pair of stars that are encased within Dyson spheres. They were afraid of what was inside them or why they were put in the spheres in the first place. It's a good book so far.

I think I have mentioned the different wording for this earlier on as well, because Probability should always be the better way of estimating such a thing as life itself,
when it only is about water and air for making it possible.

Make it bacteria and viruses only, and these are still along here as well, and could be making up an ecosystem where also plants and trees are being considered,
except for both animals and also ourselves.

Make it perhaps another or different story, always the source which could be consulted, and next also trusted.

I do a bit of numbers also during the day, and therefore always something new, and also each day a bit different.

The astronauts of the Apollo missions could be having a couple of experiences while on the surface of the Moon, and next we are also laughing about the hidden cities
supposedly on its far side, which next also should be the rear, but in fact not always in the dark either.

Here it should be 14 days of daylight, and next also a 14 day or so of night, like that of 12 hours for that of the Earth.

Should there next be something more which should not be considered any more similar laughs, but rather could be a story on its own?

The question perhaps remains open, but again that we could be looking at a magnificent sky above our heads at night.

For the last half-century or so, astronomers around the world have been scanning the cosmos with massive radio telescopes in hopes of finding some sign of intelligent life. This network of alien-hunters comprises the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), but despite all their efforts, the interstellar radio waves have remained quiet. One might even say too quiet.